Formica parexsecta

Introduction

Formica parexsecta is an extinct ant species known only from a single fossil queen preserved in Early Miocene deposits from Radoboj, Croatia (approximately 16-18 million years old). The holotype queen measures 9mm in body length, with an elongate head that is longer than wide, weakly convex sides, rounded occipital corners, and a distinctive concave occipital margin. The mesosoma is elongate, approximately twice as long as wide. This species outwardly resembles members of the extant Formica exsecta group (subgenus Coptoformica), making it an important fossil for understanding the evolutionary history of the Formica genus. As a fossil species, no living specimens exist, and it cannot be kept in captivity.